Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use by adults? That is the question that voters in three states are considering this November. Colorado, Washington and Oregon all have ballot measures that, if passed, would end marijuana prohibition in their state.

Colorado's Amendment 64 which seeks the legalization of marijuana for adults age 21 and older appears to be popular among voters. A recent poll from Rasmussen showed that 61 percent of likely Colorado voters are in favor of legalizing marijuana if it is regulated the way that alcohol and cigarettes are currently regulated.

According to a new report by the Colorado Center on Law & Policy, the passage of Amendment 64 could be a boon for the state economy. Marijuana legalization would produce hundreds of new jobs, raise millions for the construction of Colorado public schools and raise around $60 million annually in combined savings and revenue for Colorado's budget, the report says.

But it's not just marijuana use advocates that are behind the measure. The NAACP has backed pot legalization measures in Oregon and, as of last week, in Colorado not because the group necessarily favors marijuana use, but because members say current marijuana laws lead to a disproportionately high number of people of color being incarcerated or otherwise negatively affected.

The passage and enactment of a statewide marijuana ballot measure this fall could generate as much as $60 million in savings and revenue, according to a just published budgetary analysis prepared by the Colorado Center on Law & Policy.

Amendment 64, The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012, allows for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and/or the cultivation of up to six cannabis plants by those age 21 and over. Longer-term, the measure seeks to establish regulations governing the commercial production and distribution of marijuana by licensed retail outlets.

Colorado is one of three states (joining Oregon and Washington) where voters this fall will have the opportunity to substantively reform their state’s personal use cannabis laws. Four additional states — Arkansas, Massachusetts, Montana, and North Dakota — may also be voting on medical marijuana proposals in November.

According to the CCLP report, the enactment of Amendment 64 could result in an estimated: $12 million dollars of annual savings in criminal justice costs, $24 million in excise tax revenue; $8.7 million in state sales tax revenue, $14.5 million in local tax revenue, along with the creation of several hundred new jobs.

Their analysis projects that these savings and revenue estimates may double by 2017.

A new poll recently released by Public Policy Polling shows that likely voters in Colorado support of Amendment 64, a ballot measure that seeks the legalization and regulation of marijuana similar to that of alcohol, and it shows that the support appears to be growing.

The survey polled 779 likely Colorado voters earlier this month and shows 47% would vote for Amendment 64 if the election were held today and only 38% would vote against it. The other 15% of those polled said they were not sure.

A similar poll conducted in June showed 46% for and 42% against, a gap of 4 percentage points that is now a 9 point gap in favor. According to PPP, the increase comes from independents, who favored Amendment 64 49-40% in June and now favor it 58-28%. 59% of Democrats favor the measure, while 61% of Republicans oppose it.

When it comes to age, those under 45 favor the measure (58-30%) while those over 45 oppose it (44-39%).

Opponents of legalization in Colorado say these numbers need to be higher at this point for the Amendment to have a chance of passing. Time will tell, but I would rather have an amendment I support gaining in the polls than losing traction.

Not that PPP does the only polling on this issue in Colorado. A Rasmussen poll done in June showed 61% favoring Amendment 64, a good enough number to pass under anyone’s assessment.

In the end it is up to advocates to get out the vote and supporters to get to the polls. These issues are decided on election day, and no amount of polling can change that. If you support Amendment 64, spread the word, especially if you live in CO.

Anyone who follows political trends can see the momentum for marijuana legalization growing. Every year the polls look better for advocates and every election cycle more and more states are considering cannabis law reform.

2012 may go down as the biggest year by far in the history of the movement. All thanks to the tireless efforts of countless advocates and activists.

The video below features a “senior political correspondent,” Andrew Whitman, interviewing Doug Fine, author of "Too High To Fail: Cannabis and the New Green Economic Revolution." The interview is followed by a panel discussion with show host Richard French, political journalist Dominic Carter and New York State Senator Greg Ball on the benefits and downfalls of legalizing marijuana.

These debates and shows are taking place all over the country. Just 20 years ago marijuana law reform was considered a fringe movement not worth anyone’s time. Not the discussion is everywhere, in just about every area of pop culture and in many political debates. Marijuana is well on its way to being just as accepted as alcohol, and considering it is a much safer substance, this is a great thing.

The first television ad in support of I-502 which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state for adults over the age of 21, has just come out in Washington State. The ad is from New Approach Washington, the campaign behind the initiative.

The woman in the ad is personally against marijuana, but lists several reasons why it makes more sense to regulate and control the cannabis market. The ad is presumably aimed at women, who, according to polls, favor legalization less than men.

In addition to Washington, Oregon and Colorado also have marijuana legalization initiatives on their ballots. Which means it’s possible for legalization to be law in three states by next year.

How the federal government would react to that is anyone’s guess; this would also depend on who wins the Presidential election. President Obama might theoretically be willing to back off marijuana in a second term.

At least one state has to pass legalization to keep any kind of momentum in the movement. All three passing it would be nothing less than a huge slap in the face of the federal government.

Most importantly, adults in these states have a chance at a much greater measure of freedom.

No matter what side of the aisle you're standing, you're probably well aware of the importance of the 2012 election.

But, besides a neck-to-neck presidential race, another aspect of what happens at the polls this November (that you might've missed) is the serious possibility that voters may legalize marijuana.

Three states – Colorado, Oregon and Washington – will feature ballot measures offering voters the chance to make ganja legal. And, we're not talking about initiatives that make it legal to smoke marijuana for "medical reasons." No, we're talking about initiatives making it legal to smoke for "whatever" reasons.

This isn't the first time that Americans would have the chance to make Mary Jane as easy to access as booze. (California voters famously decided not to pass Prop. 19 back in 2010.) But, this is the first time that voters will decide on the issue -- since polling revealed a majority of Americans are cool with the idea.

Of course, most voters haven't noticed the move to make pot legal since President Obama and Mitt Romney have chosen to make the economy the main issue to battle during this election.

We wonder, though: wouldn't legalizing marijuana boost the economy?

Sales of junk food and subscriptions to cable-cartoon networks would immediately go up. Plus, taxation on legal weed would certainly pay off some serious government debt.